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// Chapter 1: the journey of 1000 miles begins with one drunken step 
// Story: Crossroads 
// by Jasmine Tea 
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Chapter 1
Canterlot: the capital of Equestria.
A disheveled light baby blue unicorn found himself stumbling out of an apartment. He was hung over, his hoof shielding his eyes from the punishing sun.
He licked his teeth and tasted last night's alcohol concoction. The pasty film made him gag. He groaned tiredly but was relieved knowing that he couldn't throw up anymore. 
“Should have been easy on the liquor last night,” he rasped out, feeling nothing in his stomach. He held his belly for a moment before deciding to go home.
Pulling out his signature sunglasses out of his black T-shirt, he placed them over his eyes and trotted along the city street. 
The chill winter air did wonders for his hangover. Until he slipped on some ice: hitting his  head, making his headache even worse.
"Ah, shit," he muttered to himself. 
“Sweetie are you alright?” a concerned feminine voice asked. He looked up to where the voice came from. Standing in front of him was a purple mare looking down at him with pink cat-like eyes.
“Yeah just peachy.” He growled out, feeling like crap.
“Oh my, this will simply not do.” She looked at him with disapproval, her nose scrunching up. “What if your family saw you like this.” 
“Wha?” He said still in a drunken stupor.
“My dear boy, you’re a walking mess. We need to get you home immediately.” She lifted him up on to his feet. “Can’t let you smell like liquor all day, now can I.” The young stallion looked annoyed by the action.  
“Lliistennnn lady with the weirrrdd looking eyes. I appreeciatee you helping mee, but I'm hung overrr, not helplesss,” said the stallion as he took a wobbly step and nearly fell into the street again, before the mare could catch him. Dammit why is this happening to me!
“Sweetie, you need help, but I take it that you're stubborn.” She said giggling, noting his sour look. "If I didn't know any better, I would say that you don't like strong girls."
 “Nah, stroongg mare’s are fine by me as friends; it's just kind of embbaarrassing if your girlfriend saves your ass." His hooves went to his head. "Grrrrr, I feel like my horn is splliittiingg, stuuppid hangover." The affect of the alcohol was beginning to fade from his system, making him more coherent at his company.
For starters she was a bat pony. Weird, was the first thing that popped into his mind, seeing her glasses and brown short messy mane cut. But the strangest part was the fact that she was so chatty with a complete stranger.. 
"I just hate being useless,” she replied while having a all-knowing grin. “You know like you can do it but, you didn't. You just want to be a hero in your own story, am I right?" Turning, she eyed him, expecting an answer.
“Ha, yeah ssoometing like that. Pluss mares do like strongg guys,” he said while trying, but failing, to flex his front leg muscle. Her tongue clicked at his response.
"You know, not all heroes are strong. Sometimes they're weak, but can do amazing things that others can't understand. it's what you do that makes the hero." Eyes widening she asked. “Oh how rude of me, I forgot to ask for your name good sir.” She said, quickly changing the subject.
“It’s Neon, Neon Light and yours?” He asked a bit confused with her accent. It sounded like she came from Fillydelphia. Ah fuck it, I need another drink.
The mare paused for a moment, tapping her hoof on the floor: like she couldn't remember it. “My friends call me Jasmine Tea.” They turned a corner to where he lived in upper crust Canterlot. The mare stopped, "wait, you mean Neon? The DJ who goes by W1SH?" His head nodded, wincing at the motion. Jasmine chortled, "mine, Oh my! what an interesting development I seem to find myself in." Ignoring that weird comment, Neon asked.
“So Jasmine, what brings a mare like you to Canterrlot? You don’t seem to be the type to be here.” 
The bat mare had the most obnoxiously happy answer to that. “Well Lights my boy, an old friend of mine asked me to check on her story, it seems like she’s having trouble writing it,” Jasmine replied loudly, making his ears whine. 
“Not so loud, please, I’m still rreecoveering from last night,” Neon hissed out, his head throbbing from the high-pitched noise.
“Oh, sorry I forgot about your condition-" her voice going quiet, "-so yeah, I’m here because my friend is in trouble.”
“Yeah... trouble, I can sort of relate to that. Once my dad sees me like this, he’ll probably start yelling at me,” he said bitterly. 
        “I wouldn’t worry about it too much about that. Every hero finds a way to conquer their fears. Besides, I have a funny feeling it will work itself out, Oh look were here!” In front of them was a large mansion in an Austrian style. 
        “Yeah I guess… wait how did you-” but when Neon turned the mare was gone, “-know where my house is?” Wow, I might be more drunk than usual. I guess it doesn’t matter. He gloomily opened the door of his home and swallowed the lump in his throat, awaiting the lecture that was in store for him. Hopefully, he was sober enough to deal with his father.
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When Neon walked into his father’s mansion he was greeted by a blue earth pony instead of the usual unicorn Butler.
        “Uh, hey dad you’re up early today,” Sir Pony Moore, his father, didn't reply to him. “so where’s Earl Grey-” 
        “Do you like disappointing me son?” the older stallion asked, cutting off his sentence. “Why is it, every time I see you you're either drunk or hungover?” He peered down at his son’s quivering form. Silence permeated the room. “Answer me!” 
“I just finished the paperwork on the project you wanted done and thought I should reward myself,” Neon said, his answer squeaking. He hated it when his father looked at him like that. It was made worse when his headache flared up.   
“For the fifth time this week?” Sir Moore prodded. Neon nervously looked down on his hooves that were prodding at the rug. Stay calm, he just wants an answer.
 “Paperwork is hard to do,” he choked out and immediately regretted it. That's a great answer, dumb ass.
“Hard? Neon! My question was why did you go party for the fifth time?” Moore answered, coming out with barely any control. “Of all the excuses you can come up with. This, by far, is the laziest one of them all, Neon!” He shouted, making Neon cringe. “To think that you’re the next head of the Moore family,” Sir Moore said, his hoof going to his face. It stood there for a moment before sliding down, showing the elder stallions tired eyes. It only drooped for a second before they hardened. Sir Moore could only stare at his wayward son.
'Ah, the fabled Moore’s, the oldest noble family in Canterlot, known for their long dedication to the crown. Pfft, what a load of shit.' Neon thought mockingly. Having to grow up with that legacy surrounding him, he was almost tempted to call his father by his actual name instead of that stupid title.
“You’re leaving this house immediately,” Sir Moore said flatly. Neon responded with a shocked look.
“Wait what! Why!?”  Neon incredulously asked.
“Because I honestly don’t recognize you as my son, and if your mother was still…” Sir Moore paused, “here she would agree with me.” He avoided looking at his son’s angered face.
“Don’t you bring up mom like that. You can’t use her to guilt trip me!” Neon yelled in protest. “And mom would say the same about you!” He continued to yell in frustration.
“Enough! Just pack your things and go. You have two days to get out.”
“Fine!” Neon snorted angrily. He stomped up the stairs and slammed the door, completing his image of a child throwing a tantrum.
Sir Pony Moore let out a long sigh. He stared at the spot where his son had stood and regretted his decision. He walked to the living room, peering up to look at a beautiful mare, lounging above the fireplace. 
She looked out from her portrait to silently watch over her family and everything that transpired in front of her. She gave a warm smile down to her groom, and he took comfort in that small gesture. He gazed longingly at her and she just smiled; that’s all she would ever do, give that wistful smile.
“Are you alright, sir?”  asked a polite voice, startling Moore out of his enchantment.
“Oh, Earl, it’s just you.” The cultured pony turn to see a grayish purple unicorn enter the great room. “I’m fine Earl, just things on my mind that’s all.” The stallion in the well-tailored uniform gave crinkled his mustache at that remark.
        “Would you like to talk about it sir?” Earl inquired. 
Sir Pony Moore continued to look at his bride, pondering on what to do next. “What’s there to say? I’m a king among stallions. I have respect and admiration from royalty, a good size of wealth, and... I had... her at my side.” He went quiet for a moment, thinking hard for the next few words. “But yet, I failed at my most important task of all. I failed at being a father. Heavens, Neon’s twenty-one but still acts like a child. I shudder to think what the other heads of nobility would do to him if I pass.”
        Stoically, Sir Moore stared at the cold fireplace and remembering of better times. “Earl, am I doing the right thing here”?
“Sir, to be quite honest with you. I don’t know, I still have trouble speaking to my own daughter but, I think your wife only wants you to try your best. Creator knows I should have,” the golden eye stallion said somberly. Moore looked up from the fireplace, giving him an apologetic look to his saddened friend.
        “I only hope I’m doing the right thing here, for me and Melody,” Sir Moore lamented.
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Upstairs, Neon was busy assessing the damage from last night. A giant bruise was on the left side of his face. Lipstick was peppered around his matted coat as well as a bit of vomit. A quick scan of his memories told him nothing, but a lack of a sticky feeling between his legs told him that he didn't sleep with anyone.
“Mm, well it’s not that bad, but I really am a mess. I guess it could be worse,” he said to himself. 
       He turned on the shower and dug right into the water’s embrace. He hummed  happily  letting the water run its course. With his body distracted, he let his mind wander to things... I honestly don’t recognize you as my son, and if your mother were still… here...
I haven’t changed! I’m still me right? Mom you can still tell it’s me right? Guilt started to flood his mind. “I’m sorry mom. I didn’t mean it.” As he remembered, salty tears fell down on the shower floor, mixing with the lukewarm water. Oh, how badly he wanted her forgiveness.
Oh Neon, what am I going to do with you. My sweet baby boy. A sweet feminine voice echoed through his memories, having him put on a quivering smile. "Mom… I'm not a baby anymore. I'm a big boy now, you don't have to worry about me".
        Putting the water on high he actually began to clean himself up. Steam flooded the bathroom, letting him go off to his blissful world. Until he touched his bruise. “Ouch, well that bitch really did a number on me,” he muttered. 
“Now that I think about it, why did I date her anyways?” he mused. “Oh yeah that ass.” He let his mind wander back to his memories of his last encounter with his ex-girlfriend. 
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Neon!!”  The mare’s cry fell on deaf ears in the nightclub.
Ponies filled the crowded dance floor while strobe lights went off haphazardly in the bar area. There was an off-duty DJ along with two bottles of vodka. The night was about to turn sour for our idiot.
“What the hell, Neon!” a furious mare yelled at him. He took a glance at her and chuckled. 
“Hey I forgot -hic- about you again,” he slurred between hiccups.
“Just a freaking... Hey! Did you honestly just say that to me?” she said in a snooty tone and looked over the bar area. “How much did you have to drink tonight?!”
“Muh, -hic- I think- think- think aa new record?” he says now pricking his ears, “heyyy everypony -hic- aa round of drinks on mee. I just broke myee -hic- personal recordd.” Neon called out to the crowd but with the loud music and the alcohol flowing none of them paid him any attention.
“Ugh, this is sooo degrading,” she said in disgust. It was clear that the mare was a high society snob. “A nobleman of your stature, shouldn’t be in this undignified state.”  She finished with a sneer.
Neon couldn’t care less about that. In fact he couldn’t care less about her either. “Whatever gold digger,” he said while looking at his half finished drink.
“What did you just call me!” she screamed at him. “I am a lady from the honorable Peel family! and you dare, to call me a whore!” Her hoof slammed the table, jostling the empty bottles except the one full bottle next to Neon.
“Nooo, I called you a goold diggeer, a mare who associatess with or marriies a stallion chiefly for materiall  gain,” he said surprisingly sober. Turning to the mare, he took in her reddening face. “What, youu thought I was an easyy target, huh”. Smirking he continued on with his inquiries. “You’re rrather transpaarent, High Price. Honestly youu might as well wear a T-shirt saying 'I’ll sleep with anyone if they have the bits for it'. It’s rrather ppatheticc really”. Saying that, Neon finished his drink with a smack of his lip. “Oh, and now I’m calling youu a slut.” 
The mare’s face contorted into a beastly snarl. With as much venom as she could muster she spoke, “ You disgusting swine! You should be grateful that I took my time to spend with you”! And with that declaration, Neon got ready for the coming blow. 
The bottle’s swing signified the last of his clear memories of the night; the rest was nothing but a blur of color and sound.
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Turning off the shower Neon stepped out and steam billowed out around him causing the mirror to fog distorting his image. He sighed to himself and grabbed a towel to wipe the condensation off from it. 
Come on, look at the bright side. You’ll finally move out of dad’s house. A vacation from the paperwork… Oh who am I kidding, he’ll probably send work for me. Shit, I have to find a house too! But before he could panic his phone rang with a wub sound ring tone.
Neon smirked, happy for the distraction. Picking up the phone and flipping it open, he called out. “Vinyl, Vinyl, Vinyl, you must be desperate to call me for help,” he stated in a joking manner.
“Ha ha funny guy, what? can’t an old friend call to say hi?” she said in a mock hurt voice.
        “He he, yeah…” he sighed, letting the humor of the conversation slip away. “Hey vinyl, it’s, actually a good thing you called.”
        “What’s the matter buddy? It’s actually rare to hear you serious about things,” she replied still  having a hint of amusement in her voice.
        Neon  sighed, “It’s my dad. He’s kicking me out.” 
        “What!” It was almost comical how her voice sounded a lot like a record scratch. “Why?!” 
        “Well I wanna say it’s because he’s a dick, but…” he trailed off; for all the annoyances that his father put him through, he couldn’t just hate him.
        “But what?” Vinyl pressed.
        “Look it doesn’t matter, right now I need a place to stay for a while. You guys mind if I crash at your place?” Neon ask, hoping for a yes.
        “Well, I wanna say yes but, Tavi’s cribb is full to-” 
        His knees fell to the ground, ears drooping. With both front leg shaking, he threw them up.“WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!”  he cried out in a melodramatic fashion.
        “HEY! calm down. I wasn’t done yet,” she she said annoyed. “Geez, you're such a drama queen. I’m starting to see why he’s kicking you out.”
        “Okay okay, you know, for a friend who had my back since middle school you’re still kind of mean.”
        “Good, then that means you’re listening. Now, Octavia has a full house, but there are some vacant apartments in town. I can get the paperwork filled out for you and stuff like that.”
His face lit up, feeling the warm and fuzzies for his friend. I'm one lucky bastard, “Vinyl, I, don’t know what to say.… Thank you.” 
        “Hey, we’re friends, that’s what friends do for each other. Now pack your crap. You’re moving to Ponyville ASAP!”